Many Congress and NCP leaders who defected to BJP during the 2014 assembly elections, and emerged victorious, are jittery. The reason: BJP’s defeat in the recent assembly polls in three states. However, they have decided to wait and watch till the 2019 general election result.

After the Congress victory in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had called an urgent meeting of BJP MLAs. He exhorted his MLAs to stay together and assured them that in 2019, BJP will return to power both in the Centre and state. “However, most of these MLAs who defected from Congress and NCP were not convinced. The disappointment and possible loss of BJP in Maharashtra was the main issue among these 35 MLAs. They do not want to be the part of the losing side in 2019. The Chief Minister’s pep talk did not uplift the worrying mood and boost their confidence,” said a BJP leader requesting anonymity.

A BJP MLA from North Maharashtra, who defected from NCP in 2014, said: “It is true that BJP is losing ground, but at the same time the opposition seems to be ill-prepared to wrestle power from BJP. BJP is formidable in money, muscle and machinery. It has performed well in most local elections. We are confused whether to leave or stay in BJP.”

Another former Congress leader said that BJP may manipulate small elections where the voter’s numbers are not more than 2000 in civic wards. “But when it comes to the general and state assembly elections, then the money alone cannot influence the verdict of the polls. Here, the perception and the work of the ruling party are equally important,” said the leader.

Issues like GST and farm distress can be repeated in Maharashtra as well. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity is still intact. He is capable of swinging election results. We have more at stake in the state assembly elections. Hence, it is wise to wait for the Lok Sabha poll outcome,” the MLA added.

Rajeev Satav, Congress party general secretary and MP from Hingoli, said that the reverse trend is not only limited in Maharashtra, but it is a countrywide phenomenon. “In Rajasthan too, the sitting BJP MP joined Congress on the eve of elections. The same thing happened in Madhya Pradesh, many sitting BJP MLAs and even cabinet ministers joined the Congress ahead of state elections,” Satav added.